1976: The first First Night

1976: The first First Night

Dec. 29, 1976: As part of the countdown to First Night 1977, Mark Dannenhauer skied through the First Night doorway as Dancing Bear (Ellie Hayes) looked on. The pair from the Northeast Puppet Theater rehearsed in Waterfront Park for their First Night performance.

Paul Connell/Globe Stafff
| January 3, 2013

Dec. 31, 1976: The environmental art in the total First Night scene involved a number of innovative pieces. Setting up his "Sky Drawing" exhibit on Boston Common was Jeff Stetson (left) with John Donahue and Billy Lockyer helping him. Arranged 20 feet from the ground, chemoluminescence was pumped into the clear tubing creating the drawing in the sky.

Bill Curtis/Globe staff
| January 3, 2013

Dec. 31, 1976: The only real disappointment of the night was the 200-foot red and white balloon scheduled to be lofted at 9:30 near the stage on the Boston Common baseball field. It never got off the ground. Gusting winds up to 30 miles per hour kept collapsing the balloon, and workers, buffeted by winds and cold, gave up the battle shortly before 10 p.m.

Stan Grossfeld/Globe staff
| January 3, 2013

Dec. 31, 1976: Susan Espinola, 12, of Winthrop got her face painted at an art booth set up by the Massachusetts College of Art on Boston Common.

Stan Grossfeld/Globe staff
| January 3, 2013

Dec. 31, 1976: Bob Holloway entertained First Night fans with some jazz on his saxophone.